According to my bike's maintenance schedule, the 25K service calls for replacing the fuel filter. Accoring to the service manual I need HD48646 Fuel Tank Cam Ring Remover/Installer tool. Not haqving one, I searched the forum to see if their were ways to remove the cam ring without the tool. Found several people that had removed it with a brass punch and rubber mallet. I also found several people that said starting in 2011 they changed the interval to 100K (using the same filter) and it didn't need to be done at 25K. I thought about skipping it but decided to replace it.

Now, the reason for my post (finally). While replacing the filter is a pain in the ***, below is a picture of the old filter next to a new filter. I don't think I could have gone 100K without replacing the filter.

 

Yeah, the HD tool is outrageous. I've got the Lang tool, works great. Always best to have the right tool, IMHO


The hardest part of replacing the filter is squeezing down the cannister so you can get the U-clip in, a pain in the rear!

 

I bought a filter but haven't put it in (figured I'd do it as a winter project).

Yeah, that filter looks like shiz!

 

Glad to know I'm not the only one that had that problem.

 

I changed CAMS and had the bike dyno'ed around 19k. Dyno guy said when I change the filter at 25K I should retune?

 

That discoloration means nothing. I refused to replace mine until I did the fuel pump. ( I did the fuel pump, all the relays, wheel bearings, swing arm bushings, spark plug wires, motor mounts, etc as I approached 100,000 miles as preventative maintenance.) My filter looked the same.

Both Magnetti Marrelli and Delphi fuel systems are based on automotive designs and none of their car systems need a fuel filter replacement anywhere near that frequently. It's unnecessary maintenance IMO.

 

If it was tuned when it was dyno'd, then no. There's a pressure regulator in the system.

 

I agree. Mine is approaching 80,000 miles, has never been changed, and I have no plans on replacing it unless/until I experience any performance symptoms or I have to get inside the tank for some other reason.

 

as long as you use good quality fuel.

never get gas at a station which has the delivery truck in place- when they deliver fuel it stirs up any crud in the tanks and it'll be delivered to you

I was in my pick up a couple of years ago to swap fuel pumps- the amount of crud in the tanks was negligible after about 150,000 miles...about 9000 gallons mostly costco.

mike

 

Depend on what you dump in. That's just stain. Probably looked like that first 6 months. It will go 100K. If you get to the point slowly that it is stopped up and do not WOT it, it will affect idle if it's restricted to the point at idle that pressure drops below 64lb psi. However, if it will do 64 at idle but that is all and there is not bleed off from the pressure bleed, then the top in power will be off first. Since only a few actually run WOT on Harleys, most will see idle problems first if filter gets stopped up.